{"data":{"id":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-44-20.1-3","jurisdiction":"us-ri","citation":"R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-20.1-3","heading":"Age verification requirements.","body":"(a) No person, including but not limited to online retailers, shall mail, ship, or otherwise deliver cigarettes, other tobacco products, or electronic nicotine-delivery systems in connection with a delivery sale unless such person prior to the first delivery sale to such purchaser:\n(1) Obtains from the prospective purchaser a certification that includes:\n(i) A reliable confirmation that the purchaser is at least the legal minimum sales age; and\n(ii) A statement signed by the prospective purchaser in writing that certifies the prospective purchaser’s address and that the purchaser is at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Such statement shall also confirm:\n(A) That the prospective purchaser understands that signing another person’s name to such certification is illegal;\n(B) That the sale of cigarettes to individuals under the legal minimum sales age is illegal; and\n(C) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 6, § 19.]\n(D) That the prospective consumer wants to receive mailings from a tobacco company;\n(2) Makes a good faith effort to verify the information contained in the certification provided by the prospective consumer pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section against a commercially available database, or obtains a photocopy or other image of the valid, government-issued identification stating the date of birth or age of the individual placing the order;\n(3) Provides to the prospective purchaser, via e-mail or other means, a notice that meets the requirements of § 44-20.1-4; and\n(4) In the case of an order for cigarettes and/or other tobacco products, and/or electronic nicotine-delivery system products pursuant to an advertisement on the internet, receives payment for the delivery sale from the prospective purchaser by a credit or debit card that has been issued in such purchaser’s name or by check.\n(b) Persons accepting purchase orders for delivery sales may request that the prospective purchasers provide their e-mail addresses.\n(c) The division of taxation, in consultation with the department of health, may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to this section.","path":["Title 44 Taxation","Chapter 20.1 Delivery Sales of Cigarettes"],"source_url":"https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE44/44-20.1/44-20.1-3_44-20.1-3.htm","current_through":"site files published 2025-08-13","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:00:30Z","sha256":"b4aa7939a80d559d8f0a64bd47e0246b52487f8f737ac41aa1def88ddeb055a4","source_id":"us-ri","stale":true,"prev":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-44-20.1-2","next":"us-ri/r.i.-gen.-laws-44-20.1-4"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}